For ten years, Laval has been in a cultural acceleration at high speed. The opening, this year, of the Espace Citoyen des Confluents, with its library and its performance hall, and the announcement that part of the financing of the construction of the new cultural center at the Montmorency metro station is assured, are a sign that Laval is at the “concrete and construction” stage. Quebec’s third city is changing its cultural face.
Laval came from afar. “We have long been “recognized” as a dormitory town. We want to become a city where it is good to live, work and play. It also involves culture,” summarizes Philippe Déry, head of public affairs.
“Laval is looking for its new identity,” a local artist put it differently. “There is the suburbs-bungalows-swimming pools past; the present with immigration, the need for Frenchification, a poverty that we often do not know; proximity to Montreal. Culture is a good way to stand out. »
Emmanuelle Waters, head of cultural strategy, who arrived just before the city was placed under supervision in 2013, remembers the cultural turning point traced by the administration of Marc Demers (2013-2021), followed by that of Stéphane Boyer (since 2021 ).
“At the time, there was no Culture Council, no agreement between the City and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec [CALQ]. All these tools, which all regions of Quebec had seized, did not exist here. » Laval was thus the last region to develop this 50/50 partnership with the CALQ, in 2015, which then added $300,000 to culture. Now she brings double that.
The change dates from 2014. “In ten years, there has been a spectacular evolution,” confirms Valérie Laforest, deputy director of the culture, leisure, sport and social development department. “This is not just a municipal action; it also comes from cultural actors who are very, very committed. » The Laval Group of Cultural Organizations and Artists (ROCAL) is one of the major partners.
First we had to know where the city was starting from. In 2017, the Cultural Diagnostic was carried out. “The deficit is so big,” admits Emmanuelle Waters with a sigh. “Even now, there is just one exhibition hall for every 440,000 inhabitants. As for shows, I no longer know the number of seats per capita, but I know that Laval is last on the list of regions. There is room to develop…”
The findings of the National Portrait of Quebec Public Libraries for 2022 are similar. Laval is in 13e position in 17 regions. The City does not hide its ambition. The upcoming Montmorency cultural center will house a central library, in addition to studios, artist residencies and a gallery. And the library development plan aims to increase the network from 9 to 15 neighborhood libraries by 2036.
Create in cold and incense
Today, the main creative venue is the Armenian Cultural Center. The Laurier Pavilion is a second landmark. But it is the former convent “charming, essential, and whose premises are absolutely not appropriate” which houses the most management and production of works, as indicated by Geneviève Bergeron-Collin, of Lis avec moi, which promotes books and reading.
“I don’t have heating in my office,” emphasizes the director. “When there is a funeral in the chapel, the incense goes up here. In summer, you cannot run the air conditioning and the microwave at the same time. »
“There are security issues if we leave electronic equipment. We had to move a desk because it was impossible to work when actors were rehearsing nearby, they were talking too loudly…”
The Armenian Center is needed while waiting for the new locations. It is the nest of the Vertical gallery, the ROCAL, the Teen Theater Meeting, the P’tit monde, the Arthis Network, Zeugma danse, the Théâtre inclined and the Théâtre Bluff. The last four hold their rehearsals there, with the Cracked Theater, Harpagon Theater and the Theater Fallen from the Sky.
Do a lot at the same time
In 2019 came the Cultural Development Plan and its stages. “It’s the whole community’s plan,” explains M.me Laforest. “There are actions carried out by the City, by Tourisme Laval, the chamber of commerce, the School Service Center. Real estate developers also sat at the table. »
In 2021, the City is making its first public art policy. “We were not going to be satisfied with 1% of the cost of projects for the integration of a work of art into architecture: we increased it to 1.75%”, indicates Mme Laforest. In 2023, a new envelope of one million will develop “the urban and digital art program, in the neighborhoods, so that citizens can see culture in their daily journeys”. There are also actions in heritage and archeology.
Infrastructure Artists
The duty spoke with organizations and artists from Laval. Everyone appreciates the movement. And questions arise. Independent artists, who have not joined ROCAL, feel relegated to a corner. They fear not having access to shared creation and construction spaces.
“It’s progressing quickly, and we’ve been working on this for ten years. We have neither the resources nor the expertise to keep up with this pace,” analyzes Charlotte Panaccio-Letendre, from the Verticale gallery. “I had to develop expertise in infrastructure,” because the gallery will finally be established in the future Montmorency center. “During this time, I am not working on future exhibitions. »
There is also great concern for long-term financing, especially for the human resources who will run these new places. Between 2014 and 2022, recall Mmy Waters and Laforest, the budget for the culture module increased from 20 million dollars to 40 million. The two women hope that the money will follow.
Another concern: filling future performance halls. Artists feel that there will be a lot of work to do to build the public’s appetite and habits.
Catch-up challenges
“Catching up creates pressure, a feeling of urgency,” admits Mme Laforest. “There are decisions being made every week. It’s delightful. It’s demanding. It’s a challenge to keep everyone engaged. So far, people are so engaged. »
“Multidisciplinary projects like the Montmorency Cultural Center are very rare,” recalls the director of Verticale. “Even across Canada. We will not be in spaces specialized in each art. This should create opportunities for networking and interdisciplinary creation. »
“I can’t wait to see the construction site,” concludes M.me Panaccio-Letendre. “And to see the inauguration, in 2027-2028, and the exhibition that we are going to have there. »